Vent arrangement for a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a vent arrangement (10) for a vehicle, having at least one vent (11) and an evaluation and control unit (14), wherein the at least one vent (11) comprises a vent opening (12) which guides an airflow into an interior, at least one controllable adjustment device (16) which sets a venting direction of the airflow guided into the interior and the target region thereof, and at least one projection device (17) which creates and outputs at least one light beam, wherein the evaluation and control unit (14) controls the at least one controllable adjustment device (16) of the at least one vent (11) accordingly on the basis of at least one user input and guides the airflow to the specified target region, wherein the evaluation and control unit (14) operates the at least one projection device (17) of the at least one vent (11) in different modes of operation, wherein, in a first mode of operation, the at least one projection device (17) of the at least one vent (11) creates the at least one light beam with a high intensity as a spotlight beam and outputs the latter such that the at least one light beam follows the direction of the outflowing airflow and directly visualizes the airflow and creates at least one projection in the target region of the airflow.

Description

[0001] Outlet arrangement for a vehicle

[0002] DESCRIPTION:

[0003] The invention relates to an air vent arrangement for a vehicle.

[0004] Air vent arrangements for vehicles with at least one air vent are known in numerous variations. Air vent arrangements known from the prior art generally use manually operated air vents, in which the outflow direction of an air stream directed into the interior through the corresponding outlet opening is changed directly at the vent, for example, via an adjustment slide. This creates a logical link between the user's action and the system's response by changing the outflow direction of the air stream. This allows the user, for example, to direct the outflow direction of the air stream precisely to a part of the body where they want the air stream to hit.For vents whose airflow direction is controlled by controllable adjustment devices and which can no longer be manually operated via an adjustment element directly on the vent, such a logical connection between the user's action and the system's response is no longer possible. Such a spatial separation of the control device from the vent significantly complicates the precise adjustment of the vent's airflow.

[0005] DE 10 2006 011 125 A1 discloses an air vent for a motor vehicle that allows a visual assessment of its operating status even in low ambient light. For this purpose, at least one component of the air vent is formed at least partially from a light-conducting material. Light can be supplied to this component. Furthermore, the component is visible from a space to be ventilated by the air vent and can be wetted by an air stream flowing through the air vent.

[0006] DE 10 2020 128 614 A1 discloses an air vent for a vehicle's air duct, comprising an outlet opening, a housing defining the outlet opening, and an optical display device configured to display set parameters of an air flow flowing out of the outlet opening. The optical display device comprises at least one projection device that displays the set parameters of the air flow as animated projections on at least one projection surface arranged in the area of ​​the air vent.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of providing an vent arrangement for a vehicle, having at least one vent, which simplifies a targeted adjustment of an outflow direction of an air flow flowing out of the at least one vent and increases the ease of use of the vent arrangement.

[0008] This object is achieved by an vent arrangement for a vehicle having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent patent claims.

[0009] In order to provide an vent arrangement for a vehicle, having at least one vent, which simplifies a targeted adjustment of an outflow direction of an air flow flowing out of the at least one vent and increases the ease of use of the vent arrangement, the at least one vent of the vent arrangement comprises an outflow opening designed to direct an air flow into an interior, at least one controllable adjusting device designed to adjust an outflow direction of the air flow directed into the interior and its target area, and at least one projection device designed to generate and output at least one light beam.At least one evaluation and control unit is designed to control the at least one controllable adjustment device of the at least one vent accordingly based on at least one user input and to direct the air flow to the predetermined target area. The at least one evaluation and control unit is further designed to operate the at least one projection device of the at least one vent in different operating modes. The at least one projection device of the at least one vent is designed to generate the at least one light beam with a high intensity as a spotlight beam in a first operating mode and to output it in such a way that the at least one light beam follows the direction of the output air flow and directly visualizes the air flow and generates at least one projection at the target area of ​​the air flow.

[0010] In embodiments of the vent arrangement according to the invention, the at least one light beam and the at least one projection can, for example, be effective in such a way that the at least one light beam extends the outflowing air stream along the outflow axis, so that a target area or impact area of ​​the air stream, for example on the body of the vehicle occupants, but also on specific surfaces such as side windows, via which at least one projection can be directly identified. The at least one light beam can preferably be projected in the form of a ring on the target area or impact area of ​​the air stream, so that the projection then directly illuminates the vehicle occupants and thus directly visualizes the direction of the air stream.

[0011] The direct visibility of the outflow direction of the air flow using optical target points significantly simplifies the alignment of the air flow of the at least one vent, the outflow direction of which can be adjusted via at least one adjustment device. The at least one adjustment device can, for example, comprise a first actuator and at least one first air guide element, which can be adjusted by the first actuator, and a second actuator and at least one second air guide element, which can be adjusted by the second actuator. The first actuator and the at least one first air guide element enable the air flow to be deflected laterally to the left or right. The second actuator and the at least one second air guide element enable the air flow to be deflected upwards or downwards.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment of the vent arrangement, the at least one evaluation and control unit can be configured to operate the at least one projection device of the at least one vent in the first operating mode during an adjustment process for the outflow direction of the airflow directed into the interior. This can reduce the distraction of the occupants while driving caused by the visible light rays when adjusting the airflow, while still simplifying the adjustment process. Additionally, a waiting time window can be specified after the adjustment process is completed before the first operating mode is ended.

[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment of the vent arrangement, the at least one projection device of the at least one vent can be further configured to generate the at least one light beam with a lower intensity as a diverging light beam in a second operating mode and to output it in such a way that the at least one light beam illuminates the outlet opening of the at least one vent and no projection occurs. For example, a ring-shaped illumination of the outlet opening can be generated at the edge of the outlet opening without any projection occurring.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment of the vent arrangement, the at least one projection device can be further configured to generate the at least one light beam of the at least one vent with the high intensity in a third operating mode and to output it with a constant output direction or with an output direction that changes according to a predetermined movement pattern, so that at least one projection can be generated in the interior. In this case, the at least one evaluation and control unit can be configured to operate the at least one projection device in the third operating mode before commissioning or after operation of the vehicle.For example, appealing moving or stationary scenarios are conceivable, such as a disco mode with multiple light beams generated as high-intensity spotlights, or the projection of rings in the sky of the vehicle interior as a welcoming or farewell scenario. In this case, the at least one projection device of the at least one vent can be further configured to specify an output color of the generated at least one light beam. Thus, the spotlights or rings can be generated and output in different colors.

[0015] In a further advantageous embodiment of the vent arrangement, the at least one projection device can be designed to visualize a set strength of the air flow emitted by the at least one vent via the intensity of the at least one light beam during the second operating mode. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one projection device can be designed to visualize a set temperature via different color tones of the at least one light beam during the second operating mode. Thus, during the second operating mode, the lighting in the vent and the intensity of the lighting can visualize the strength of the emitted air flow, and the output temperature of the emitted air flow can be visualized via different colors.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the vent arrangement, different colors can be assigned to several vents, so that the projection devices of the individual vents generate and emit the corresponding at least one light beam with the assigned color during the first operating mode. The possibility of multi-color projection allows the various vents installed in the vehicle to be directly assigned and differentiated.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment of the vent arrangement, at least one operating device, arranged separately from the at least one vent, can be designed to receive at least one user input and output at least one corresponding operating signal to the evaluation and control unit. The at least one operating device can be designed, for example, as a menu-driven screen with a touch-sensitive surface or as a so-called "touch screen," via which manual operating inputs are possible.

[0018] The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the respective combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, embodiments are also to be considered encompassed and disclosed by the invention that are not explicitly shown or explained in the figures, but which emerge and can be produced from the explained embodiments through separate feature combinations.

[0019] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description. In the drawings, like reference numerals denote components or elements that perform the same or similar functions. Herein:

[0020] Fig. 1 is a schematic and partial representation of an interior of a vehicle with an embodiment of an outlet arrangement according to the invention for a vehicle; and

[0021] Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of essential components of the vent arrangement according to the invention for a vehicle from Fig. 1.

[0022] As can be seen from Fig. 1 and 2, the illustrated embodiment of an vent arrangement 10 according to the invention for a vehicle 1 has at least one vent 11 and at least one evaluation and control unit 14. The at least one vent 11 comprises an outflow opening 12 which directs an air flow into an interior 3, at least one controllable adjusting device 16 which sets an outflow direction of the air flow directed into the interior 3 and its target area, and at least one projection device 17 which generates and outputs at least one light beam 18. Based on at least one user input, the at least one evaluation and control unit 14 controls the at least one controllable adjusting device 16 of the at least one vent 11 accordingly and directs the air flow to the predetermined target area.The at least one evaluation and control unit 14 operates the at least one projection device 17 of the at least one vent 11 in various operating modes. In a first operating mode, the at least one projection device 17 of the at least one vent 11 generates the at least one light beam 18 with a high intensity as a spotlight beam and outputs it in such a way that the at least one light beam follows the direction of the emitted air flow, directly visualizing the air flow, and generates at least one projection 19 at the target area of ​​the air flow.

[0023] As can also be seen from Fig. 1, the vent arrangement 10 in the illustrated embodiment comprises a plurality of vents 11 which are arranged on an instrument panel 5. A first vent 11A is arranged in the driver area on the left edge of the instrument panel 5. A second vent 11B is arranged in the driver area to the left of the center of the instrument panel 5. A third vent 11C is arranged in the passenger area to the right of the center of the instrument panel 5. A fourth vent 11D is arranged in the passenger area at the level of a glove compartment (not designated in more detail) on the instrument panel 5. A fifth vent (not visible) is arranged in the passenger area on the right edge of the instrument panel 5.

[0024] As can also be seen from Fig. 1, in the illustrated embodiment of the vent arrangement 10, an operating device 7 designed as a touchscreen 7A is arranged centrally on the instrument panel 5, separate from the vents 11. The operating device 7 designed as a touchscreen 7A receives the user inputs in a menu-driven manner and outputs corresponding operating signals to the evaluation and control unit 14, which then carries out the corresponding control of the adjustment devices 16 and projection devices 17 of the individual vents 11. Of course, other suitable embodiments for the operating device 7 are also possible for receiving the user inputs.

[0025] As can also be seen from Fig. 2, the individual vents 11, of which only one vent 11 is shown as an example in Fig. 2, each comprise two controllable adjusting devices 16 and only one projection device 17. The projection device 17 functionally links the generated light beam 18 with a vector which represents the outflow direction of the air flow from the corresponding vent 11. To adjust the outflow direction of the air flow from the corresponding vent 11, a first adjusting device 16A enables a lateral deflection of the air flow to the left or right. A second adjusting device 16B enables a deflection of the air flow upwards or downwards. For this purpose, the two adjusting devices 16A, 16B can each comprise, for example, a servo motor (not shown in detail) and corresponding air guide elements which are moved by the servo motors.

[0026] In the illustrated embodiment, the vent arrangement 10 comprises only one evaluation and control unit 14, which controls the adjustment devices 16 and projection devices 17 of the individual vents 11. The evaluation and control unit 14 operates the projection devices 17 of the affected vents 11 in the first operating mode during an adjustment process for the outflow direction of the air flow directed into the interior 3. This means that the evaluation and control unit 14 ends the first operating mode of the projection devices 17 of the affected vents 11 when the adjustment process for the outflow direction of the air flow directed into the interior 3 of the affected vents 11 is completed. In addition, the evaluation and control unit 14 specifies a waiting time window after completion of the adjustment process before the first operating mode is ended.In the illustrated embodiment of the vent arrangement 10, the projection devices 17 of the affected vents 11 generate the at least one light beam 18 in a second operating mode, each with a lower intensity as a diverging light beam, and output this light beam in such a way that the light beam 18 illuminates the outlet opening 12 of the at least one vent 11 and no projection 19 is created. In the illustrated embodiment, the individual projection devices 17 visualize a set strength of the air flow emitted by the corresponding vent 11 via the intensity of the at least one light beam 18 during the second operating mode. In the second operating mode, the maximum adjustable intensity is predetermined such that the at least one light beam 18 does not yet generate a projection 19.In addition, during the second operating mode, the individual projection devices 17 visualize a set temperature of the air flow emitted by the corresponding vent 11 via different color tones of the at least one light beam 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the evaluation and control unit 14 operates the individual projection devices 17 of the affected vents 11 in the second operating mode when the adjustment process of the outflow direction of the air flow to be emitted from the affected vents 11 has been completed and the first operating mode has ended.

[0027] In a third operating mode, the projection devices 17 of the affected vents 11 generate at least one light beam 18, each with a high intensity, and output it depending on a selected scenario with a constant output direction or with an output direction that changes according to a predetermined movement pattern, so that at least one projection 19 can be generated in the interior 3. The evaluation and control unit 14 operates the projection devices 17 of the affected vents 11 before commissioning or after operation of the vehicle in the third operating mode. This means that the user can select a greeting or farewell scenario from various greeting or farewell scenarios, which is then executed by the evaluation and control unit 12 by appropriately controlling the projection devices 17 of the affected vents.For this purpose, projection devices 17 of the outlets 11 can each specify an output color of the generated at least one light beam 18.

[0028] In the illustrated embodiment of the vent arrangement 10, different colors are assigned to the plurality of vents 11 A, 11 B, 11 C, 11 D, so that the projection devices 17 of the individual vents 11 generate and output the corresponding at least one light beam 18 with the assigned color during the first operating mode.

[0029] Fig. 1 shows the vent arrangement 10 in a state in which the first vent 11A and the second vent 11B are each operated in the first operating mode by the evaluation and control unit 14. As can be seen from Fig. 1, a first light beam 18A in a first color indicates the outflow direction of a first air flow from the first vent 11A, which is directed towards a chest of an occupant 9. The target area of ​​the first air flow is indicated by a circular first projection 19A in the chest area of ​​the occupant 9. A second light beam 18B in a second color different from the first indicates the outflow direction of a second air flow from the second vent 11B, which is also directed towards the chest of the occupant 9. The target area of ​​the second air flow is indicated by a circular second projection 19B in the chest area of ​​the occupant 9.

[0030] LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0031] 1 vehicle

[0032] 3 Interior 5 Instrument panel

[0033] 7 Operating device

[0034] 7A touch screen

[0035] 9 inmates

[0036] 10 Outlet arrangement 11 , 11 A, 11 B, 11 C, 11 D Outlet

[0037] 12 Outlet opening

[0038] 14 Evaluation and control unit

[0039] 16, 16A, 16B adjustment device

[0040] 17 Projection device 18, 18A, 18B Light beam

[0041] 19, 19A, 19B Projection

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS:

1. An vent arrangement (10) for a vehicle (1), comprising at least one vent (11) and at least one evaluation and control unit (14), wherein the at least one vent (11) comprises an outflow opening (12) designed to direct an air flow into an interior (3), at least one controllable adjustment device (16) designed to adjust an outflow direction of the air flow directed into the interior (3) and its target area, and at least one projection device (17) designed to generate and output at least one light beam (18), wherein the at least one evaluation and control unit (14) is designed to correspondingly control the at least one controllable adjustment device (16) of the at least one vent (11) based on at least one user input and to direct the air flow to the predetermined target area, wherein the evaluation and control unit (14) is further designed,to operate the at least one projection device (17) of the at least one vent (11) in different operating modes, wherein the at least one projection device (17) of the at least one vent (11) is designed to generate the at least one light beam (18) with a high intensity as a spot light beam in a first operating mode and to output it in such a way that the at least one light beam follows the direction of the output air flow and directly visualizes the air flow and generates at least one projection (19) at the target area of ​​the air flow.

2. Outlet arrangement (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one evaluation and control unit (14) is designed to operate the at least one projection device (17) of the at least one outlet (11) in the first operating mode during an adjustment process of the outflow direction of the air flow directed into the interior (3).

3. Outlet arrangement (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one projection device (17) of the at least one outlet (11) is further designed to generate the at least one light beam (18) with a lower intensity as a diverging light beam in a second operating mode and to output it in such a way that the at least one light beam (18) illuminates the outlet opening (12) of the at least one outlet (11) and no projection (19) is created.

4. Outlet arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one projection device (17) is further designed to generate, in a third operating mode, the at least one light beam (18) of the at least one outlet (11) with the high intensity and to output it with a constant output direction or with an output direction changing according to a predetermined movement pattern, so that at least one projection (19) can be generated in the interior (3).

5. Outlet arrangement (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one evaluation and control unit (14) is designed to operate the at least one projection device (17) before commissioning or after operation of the vehicle in the third operating mode.

6. Outlet arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one projection device (17) of the at least one outlet (11) is further designed to specify an output color of the generated at least one light beam (18).

7. Outlet arrangement (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the at least one projection device (17) is designed to visualize a set strength of the air flow emitted by the at least one outlet (11) via the intensity of the at least one light beam (18) during the second operating mode.

8. Outlet arrangement (10) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the at least one projection device (17) is designed to visualize a set temperature via different color tones of the at least one light beam (18) during the second operating mode.

9. Outlet arrangement (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that different colors are assigned to several outlets (11), so that the projection devices (17) of the individual outlets (11) generate and output the corresponding at least one light beam (18) with the assigned color during the first operating mode.

10. Outlet arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one operating device (7), which is arranged separately from the at least one outlet (11), is designed to receive the at least one user input and to output at least one corresponding operating signal to the evaluation and control unit (14).

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